I’m a native Detroiter and the co-founder of People 4 People Productions.
The company was formed in 1991 in Newark, New Jersey,
alongside my late brother, David Anthony Saunders.
I started my career in the Media Industry in 1986 as a Media Studies Program graduate student at
The New School For Social Research in New York City. There, I learned how to integrate media history, theory, research, and management with production work in film, audio, video, and digital media.
When I joined the New York City Department of Education in 1986 as an English Arts and Video Production Teacher, I witnessed drama's role in shaping attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors. The youth took ownership of their learning when inspired by drama, positive messaging, purpose, and belief in their learning potential. Blending film studies and video technology projects with purpose caused students
to perform beyond expectations.
In 1999, I was invited to teach at New York City’s High School Of Art & Design, where my ‘Meet The Documentarian Lecture Series’ further proved that drama, whether delivered in-person or in movies, can change hearts and minds and accelerate student learning.
'Who's To Blame' reached 2.5 million homes in the United States and aired in 14 countries
for two weeks during ‘International Education Week.
When I was offered an opportunity to teach underserved students at the High School of Graphic Communication Arts in 2002, six months of intensive accelerated learning positioned students
capable of creating the award-winning film Who’s To Blame?
From 1986 until 2009, I delivered Film Media Literacy Education programs to thousands of youth, many of whom have entered the Media Industry as young Media Industry professionals since then.
Today, I'm working to help build the capacity for Film Media Literacy Education to thrive as a community educational movement. To help build a better world and future for us all, I'm letting the screen help and using film and video to serve humanity to the best advantage.
Public Education Activist
JHS#22 , NYC, 1986
Guest Filmmakers Panel Discussion with Rutgers University Film Studies Students
Filmmaker Barbara Koppel meets with film students from
The High School of Art & Design in Manhattan
At Rutgers University, as a Film Studies Adjunct throughout the ’90s, I learned how to use
a rich mix of film studies, history, 70s pop culture, and current events to impact student learning in powerful ways that impact change.
